Gill, Rohit and Virat have excellent credentials – Sanjay Manjrekar on India’s top-order

As the penultimate preparatory chapter ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup is officially here, India have a stern test ahead with the Asia Cup in full bloom. India will be starting their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Pakistan on September 2nd at Pallekele International Stadium.

Well, a lot for the Men in Blue will rely on how the Indian top-order featuring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill fare against the mighty Pakistan pace-battery. The last time around things seemed bleak until Virat Kohli took over the reins.

Talking to Star Sports ahead of the mega-clash, Sanjay Manjrekar had a very special request for the hallowed batting trio of the Men in Blue. Manjrekar said, “See, fortunately for India, number one, two, and three, when Virat bats at number three, they are three very good test batters. And you might talk about 50 overs being a one-day match and white-ball cricket and all that, but the start of a 50 overs game is not like a T20 match.”

He further added, “I think there are some serious test cricket skills needed, and then Rohit Sharma got these five hundreds in the last World Cup. I remember him respecting the bowling in the first 10 overs. And these three guys – Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat – who have excellent credentials as defensive test batters, that is the game they'll have to bring. If they don't lose early wickets, then it's just their game.”

With KL Rahul sidelined for the first couple of matches, India will be hoping to incorporate either Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan to fill up the wicket-keeping shoes in the trail of which India’s No.4 position will also be brought into question.